Push-in can-end closure with holding means



Feb. 22, 1966 c. w CROSS ET AL PUSH-IN CAN-END CLOSURE WITH HOLDING MEANS Filed July 6, 1964 INVENTORS. CHARLES m CROSS and KENNETH V. MART/N W%% ETH LI I I Attorney United States Patent 0 3,236,409 PUSH-IN CAN-END CLOSURE WITH HOLDING MEANS Charles W. Cross, North Huntiugdon Township, Westmoreland County, and Kenneth V. Martin, Munhall Borough, Pa., assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,279 1 Claim. (Cl. 22047) The invention relates to an improved can-end construction which facilitates opening the can.

An object of the invention is to provide a can end which has a push-button closure afiixed thereto, whereby the closure remains on the can after the can is opened.

A more specific object is to provide a can end which has a pouring opening and a push-button closure received in said opening, and in which the closure carries a tab engageable with the end for locking the closure to the can after the can is opened.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a can, the end of which is constructed according to our invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of the can end before the can is opened; and

FIGURE 3 is a section similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the end with the can open.

FIGURE 1 shows a sheet metal can of tinplate or the like which is conventional apart from our improved end construction. The can includes a body 10 shown as cylindrical and an end member 12 joined to the body around its periphery with the usual seam 13. The end member has a pouring opening 14 near one edge and a locking embossment 15 spaced from the opening near the middle. A sheet metal plug 16 fits within the opening 14 and provides a closure. The plug has a circumferential flange 17 which engages the inside face of the end member (12 and is fixed thereto. We affix a U-shaped sheet metal tab 18 to the outside face of plug 16 after we have inserted the plug in the opening.

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To open the can, we first push the tab '18 and plug -16 inwardly. The plug is easily broken loose from the end member 12, yet the joint has sufiicient mechanical strength to resist accidental opening. Next We push the plug and tab sideways as FIGURE 3 shows. The outer arm of the U-shaped tabe engages the embossment 15 and locks the plug and tab in a position in which the pouring opening 14 is uncovered. The tab can have transverse ridges to assist in locking it .to the embossment. Thus we may pour the contents of the can through the pouring opening without interference from the plug, yet the plug and tab remain with the can.

While we have shown and described only a single embodiment of the invention, it is apparent that modifications may arise. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited to the disclosure set forth but only by the scope of the appended claim.

We claim:

A can-end construction comprising a sheet metal member having inside and outside faces, a seam around its peripheral edges, a pouring opening spaced from said seam, and an embossment spaced both from said seam and from said opening and projecting from the outside face, a sheet metal plug inserted in said opening and having a circumferential flange fixed to the inside face of said member with a joint which can be broken loose when the plug is pushed from the outside, and a U- shaped metal tab fixed to the outside of said plug, said plug being movable to a position in which said tab engages said embossment for locking the plug in a position in which the contents of the can may be poured through said opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,159,304 12/1964- Kolde et al. 220-34 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

